The key facts

  • Mohammad Reza Aref stated at the SCO Heads of Government Council meeting in Dushanbe that Iran exercised its right to self-defense in the conflict with the US.
  • Tehran justifies its actions by Article 51 of the UN Charter.
  • Iran stated that it does not want war and instability and prefers peace over confrontation.

Statement at the SCO meeting

Iran reported that during the conflict with the US it exercised its legitimate right to self-defense. This was announced by the country's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, speaking at the meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, held in Dushanbe on Monday.

Reference to Article 51 of the UN Charter

According to Aref, Iran explains its actions by the right to self-defense provided for in Article 51 of the UN Charter. This article recognizes the right of states to individual or collective self-defense in the event of an armed attack; measures taken under this right must be immediately reported to the UN Security Council.

'Prefers peace over confrontation'

'The Islamic Republic of Iran has exercised its inherent right to self-defense, but at the same time has once again demonstrated that it does not want war and instability and always prefers peace over confrontation,' Zamon.uz quoted Aref as saying. Thus, Tehran simultaneously justified its actions in the conflict and emphasized that it stands for peace, not escalation.